Wednesday, April 19, 1967 Walter R. Shaw : Oh yes, I am. Honourable J. Elmer Blanehard : Are youT Saveral Members: Don't tell him, don't tell him. Baararable J. Elmer Blanehard : Don't tell him? Walter R. Shaw : I am interested in ancient history at anytime. Honourable J. Elmer Blanehard : A real "best-seller", I will tell yon that Mr. Speaker , the junior member from Sixth Queens, I am sorry he is not in his seat tonight, mentioned in a rather sarcastic manner that there was nothing in the Throne Speech but the promise of the Government to bring* higher wages in this in inly Now in contradiction to that statement I would like to inform the House, Mr. Ranker , that on the 28th day of March, 1967, the Dominion Bureau of Statis¬ tics released a statement that in Prince Edward Island there was an increase in labour income of 10.4% in 1966 over 1965, bringing wages on Prince Edward Island to a total of $74,000,000.00. This means an increase of over $7,000,000 X 0 in wages, which I would say is quite a significant increase. This is a greater percentage increase then the province of Scotia and Manitoba show in the release where, I map any, there are Conservative administrations in power. The National average hurl— was 12.2%, so that Prince Edward Island compares very favourably in com¬ parison to the national average and I feel quite certain, Mr. Speaker , that no one in the Opposition can dispute these figures. Bat getting back to Department affairs I would like to emphasize that since setting -an the separate department, the past eight and one-half months have been months of achievement in the Departmnt of Labour. Through long hours of detailed study, research, thought and planning we have developed a fresh new approach to labour management problems. Definite constructive and long-range pofides have been formulated to guide the Department in its relations with labour and manage¬ ment. A new rapport has been established with both labour and management thereby regaining the confidence of both groups in the ability of the Department to handle inouattml problems involving both groups. Our conciliation services have been expedited to maintain industrial peace in the province. The Labour Relations Board has functioned impartially and effectively, clearing up a great back-log of cases and at the same time earning the unqualified respect of Doth labour and management. We have established a Labour Management Relations Council to explore and study the problems of labour management relations, and a proper set of records and files have been established. In addition, there are many other areas in which the Department has given its attention and on which I will elaborate in this address. The question is often asked, Mr. Speaker , why does the Government have a separate department of Labour? Well, Mr. Speaker , I can give you a political answer to that question, and that is that the liberal party promised a separate portfolio on labour and the Campbell Government will always - keep ita election promises. (Applause) Walter R. 8haw: That's a joke all right! Honourable J. Elmer Blanehard : But let us look at what prompted this plank in oar platform. First of all, we have to look at the term "labour" in ita broad sense and meaning. Labour includes wage earners at all levels, and cannot be re¬ stricted to the skilled and semi-skilled tradesmen and unskilled labour only, which I majf say is the popular conception of the term labour. It includes civil servants, professional people, and in general anyone who receives a wage in return for his skill and work. So let us look at the number of persons who are wage earners in this province. According to the Census of 1961, there were S 4it89 persons in the labour force in P.E.I. On the other hand the formula used by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics to determine the size of the work force in a province is thirty- five to thirty-seven percent of the population. This would give us a figure of 40,880 persona in the labour force on the basis of 109,000 population. We can, therefore, say ww some certainty that our work force numbers somewhere between 84,000 and 4M60 persons.